Arnold Schwarzenegger Goes on a Bronze Statue Buying Spree

Welcome to the Smart Set. Every morning we bring you the gossip coverage, filtered. Today: Arnold Schwarzenegger stocks up on giant statues of himself, David Copperfield's magic award goes missing, and Anna Wintour redoubles her efforts to land Kate Middleton on the cover of Vogue.

The owner of an Oregon metal casting company says that Arnold Schwarzenegger "personally commissioned" at least three--and maybe as many as seven--8-foot, 580-pound bronze statues of himself "flexing in a classic body-builder pose." One has already been shipped to a museum in Schwarzenegger's childhood home of Thal, Austria, and a second could be headed to Dayton, Ohio, which holds the "Schwarzenegger-inspired" Arnold Fitness Weekend every year. Schwarzenegger's also said to want "one for himself." [Gatecrasher]

Vogue editor Anna Wintour is said to be "quietly but persuasively" working to land Kate Middleton for the cover of the magazine. Wintour's reportedly pushing photographer Mario Testino--who took Middleton's official engagement photograph with Prince William--to "reach out" to Middleton in the hopes of landing her for the cover. [Page Six]

A spokesman for Alec Baldwin denies that the actor was sending a message to girlfriend Hilaria Thomas when he held up a handwritten sign reading "She's my Carla" during the closing credits of Saturday Night Live this weekend. One of Thomas' friends, however, says the sign was in fact a reference to a "very cute joke" that the couple shares, but didn't go into details. [Gatecrasher]

The Society of American Magicians--not to be confused with the Magicians Alliance--recently gave David Copperfield a plaque proclaiming him to be the "King of Magic," but the bauble reportedly went missing from the illusionist's apartment after a cocktail party celebrating the achievement. Copperfield's now said to be offering a $50,000 reward for its safe recovery. [Page Six]

The hot rumor in fashion circles is that Jill Sander designer Raf Simons is about to replace Stefano Pilati as head fashion designer as Yves Saint Lauren. Both houses have dismissed the talk as unfounded. [The Telegraph]

Conde Nast is reportedly continuing its entry into the themed eatery, with plans to open a Vogue Café in Kiev and a GQ Bar in Istanbul next year. They already have opened the eateries in Moscow, and the company says it will be unveiling more restaurants-based-on-magazines in the coming months. [Women's Wear Daily]